Donald Trump plans major move against illegal immigrants, licences may be banned

New York (The Uttam Hindu): US President Donald Trump has called for a federal law to stop states from issuing commercial driver’s licences to illegal immigrants, citing a road accident that seriously injured a young girl.

Speaking during his address to the United States Congress, Trump proposed a measure he suggested naming “Delilah’s Law,” which would prohibit states from granting commercial driver’s licences to undocumented immigrants. The proposal was linked to the case of Delilah Coleman, who was present in the visitors’ gallery during the address and received applause from lawmakers and attendees.

Trump referred to the case while criticising illegal immigration policies and also blamed the administration of Joe Biden for allowing undocumented migrants into the country. He alleged that the driver involved in the incident had entered the US illegally and later obtained a commercial driving licence under lenient state policies.

According to officials from the United States Department of Homeland Security, the truck driver involved in the accident was identified as Pratap Singh, who had entered the United States through Mexico in October 2022. The accident reportedly took place in California in June 2024 when the driver was allegedly operating a high-speed heavy truck in a construction zone and failed to stop, leading to a collision with several vehicles and injuries to multiple people.

Trump said doctors had initially warned that the injured child might never walk, talk or live a normal life. He described her as an inspiration and said she has made significant progress and is now attending school and learning to walk again.

He also claimed that many undocumented immigrants lack English language skills and may struggle to understand basic road signs such as directions, speed limits and hazard warnings.